Transmission synchronizing mechanism



' o. E. FISI-:BURN

TRANSIISSION SYNHRONIZING UECHANIS-ll -@inn -15, 1941.

'Film sept. so. 1939 gill/ JNVENTOR A BY Off@ ZT Hggvz 44W du @la V ATTORNEYS.

Patented pr. l5, 1941' UNITED STATES PATENT A o FFlcE TRANSMISSION svuonaomzmo MEcnmsM ,om E. Fantom, neu-oa, Mien, assignerv t- Chryslei' Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a

corporation of Delaware Application September 30, 1939, Serial No. 297,205

Claims.

This invention relates to an improved synchronizing mechanism and more particularly to a mechanism for synchronizing parts preparatory to clutching the same together. l

`An object of theinvention is to provide a mechanism of this type which will insure against are characterized by simplicity in design, and

which are capable of long use without undue wear.

Other objects of the invention will be more apparent in the 'following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig; 1 is a sectional elevational View' of a portion of a motor vehicle transmission embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational view. of-a portion ci the Fig. l mechanism.

Fig. 3 is Ya transverse sectional view taken as indicated by the line--i of Fig. 2.

Fig. a is a view in perspective oi a portion ci the mechanism shown in Itigs. l and 2.

In the drawing 'I have illustrated my invention in connection. with the second and` direct speed drives of a conventional transmission A although my blocker synchronizer may he used wherever blocker clutching is desired. Y

The transmission comprising the usual driving shaft Il) carrying the main drive pinion il meshing with coimtershaft Agear i2. The countershaft i3 carries a gear H nieshing 'with the second speed `Gear |5- has a. forwardly extending portion |56 formed with a series of external clutching teeth and a friction clutching cone -surface 26. Gear il likewise has a rear extension Ila formed with clutching teeth 2l'` and cone surface 283, the sleeve teeth 23 being selectively engageable either with teeth 25 or 2l when the sleeve 2t is shifted rearwardly or forwardly to respectively drivershaft l S from shaft lll in the second or direct speed ratios.

As a means of rictionally synchronizing shaft l and hub 2D with gear l5 or gear il and preventing the positive clutching ci the sleeve 2i! with teeth 25 or 2l prior to synchronization, I provide blocker synchronizers in the form of rings 28, 29 respectively formed with blocker teeth' Bt, BI of the same diametrical pitch as the teeth 23, 25 and 2l and respectively disposed between teeth 23'and teeth 25 and 2l as shown in Fig. 2

so that the blocker teeth will prevent shift of the sleeve until the partsto be positively clutched are synchronized.

Each blocker 28, 29 is formed with acup 32 preferably threaded 'to provide a friction surface which will cut through the oil nlm at the cones 28, 2B Without grooving the 'cones as described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 180,840, filed December 20, 1.937. The threads are preferably of a left hand to aselstvin the release of the blockers after they perform their function. YThe blockers 2B, 2li are respectively mounted on the cone portions of 'the gears i5 and Il and are limited in their movement one toward the other by the 2i of-the hub 2l) and are movable away from each otherto frictionally engage the respective cone surfaces to effect synchronization. Each blocker has an operating connection with the `huh 29 and as illusi-rated more particularly in Fig. 3 is provided `With a plurality (three being shown) of circumferengear i5 which is loose on the transmission output shalt l5 and retained against axial displacement to the right, as viewed is Fig.' l, by shoulder l5 on shaft it.

Spllned at ll to shaft IS and preferably fixed: Y

by ring I9 and gear i5 against movement axially of this shaft is a hub 2B having an outer annular rim 2l extending axially ,beyond the body por- Y. tion A0I the hub and formed with a series of axially extending externalgteeth 22 engaged by. the internal teeth 23 of a shiftv clutchmember or sleeve 28. v Y

tially spaced'proiecting stops 34,'eacl1 extending with clearance 35 into an opening 3B in the adjacent portion of the rim 2l of the hub 2D. While each blocker is thus drivingly connected with 'the hub, the clearance indicated at 35' accommodates relative rotation between the hub and each blocker. The various teethv, 3i, 25 and 2l have their ends bevelled m at 37 for engagement with the bevelled ends ci the sleeve teeth 23.

In order to insure operation of thesynchroniz` ing mechanism in a minimum of time, the blockers 2B, 2B are preferably maintained .in an energlzed position with respect to the respective cone surfaces, Vin which position the blocker and cone friction surfaces are engaged under lrelatively light pressure prior to the synchronizing action.

For the Purpose of maintaining this energizedv position, each opening 30 is provided with tapered walls as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 4, such walls diverging outwardly with respect to the rim-2l, am each projection 3l has correspondinglytapered side walls. This formation of the projections may be omitted, however, but is preferably included as it eliminates undue localized wear of the parts. When the projections of a blocker engage a wall of the respective openings receiving the same in response to rotation of the hub, the tapered wall acts on the projection to move the blocker outwardly from the hub 2l and axially with respect to the associated cone to` an energized position with respect to its said cone, in which position the friction surfaces of the blocker and cone are engaged under relatively light pressure prior to placing such surfaces under relatively heavy pressure to effect the synchronizing action as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The extent to which the cooperating friction surfaces of a blocker and cone are engaged through the action .of the connection as aforesaid, may be varied by varying the included e defined by the walls of the openings 38. ItA will Y be understood, of course, that as this angle is increased there is enacted an increase in the pressure under which these parts engage and that when auch angle is decreased there is effected a decrease in the pressure. As an example, 130

have found that an includedangle of thirty vile-- grecs will provide the necesesary pressure to insure the desired operation of the m When the blockers are rotated with the hub the projections on the former engage a wall oi' an opening 3l receiving the same so that each blocker is placed in an energized position with respeci: associated cone, as aforesaid, and the blocker teeth 2l, II are placed in blocking position. that is axially opposite the teeth 23 of the shiftable sleeve 2l. When the sleeve 24 is shifted axiallyto engage the teeth 25 of gear I5, for example. the teeth 23 of :the sleeve engage the teeth' 2l of the blocker 28 and due to the clearance between the blocker projections 3l and the walls of the opening receiving the same, the blocker is permitted to rotate relative to the hub so that the blocker teeth are moved out of blocker position, and the blocker is moved onto the cone surface so that the frictionsurfaces of the blocker and cone are engaged under relatively heavy pressure to effect synchronization of gear I 5 and shaft i6 prior to engagement of the teeth 23 and 25.

It will be noted that the second speed gear I5 is in permanent driving engagement with the shaft I0, and the shiftable sleeve 24.may rotate faster or slower than the gear II or the gear'- Iii. In either event the blocker rings 2,8, 29 will be rotated relative to the hub tov cause the -projections of the iormer to engage a wall of the opening receiveing the same and maintain the blockers in an energized position prior to shift of the sleeve 24 to selectively clutch'wlth gears I I and Il. For example, in shifting the sleeve 24 to clutch with ythe second speed gear I5, should the latter be rotating fasterthan the hub and sleeve,

the blocker ring 28 will have been moved out- Awar'dly its energized position due to rotation of the hub and sleeve, and vthe faster rotation of the gear Il will cause the blocker to rotate relative to the hub, this being accommodated by the clearance such as indicated at 3i. This relative rota'-y tion causes the projections of the blocker to engage the opposite wallof the openings 3B receiv- 'ing the same and the blocker is thus maintained in its energized position. When the blocker T is in either of the aforesaid positions, the teeth l thereof are in blocking position with respect to the teeth of the sleeve 25. The action of the cooperating surfaces of the blockers and cones is more fully set forth in my aforesaid copending application Serial No. 180,840.

What I claim:

l. In a power transmitting mechanism, a first rotatable structure having external clutching teeth and a friction surface, a second rotatable structure having external teeth, a sleeve having internal teeth engaging the external teeth of said second structure and shiftable to clutchingly engage the teeth of said first structure to clutch said structures, a blocker member having afriction surface engageable with the aforesaid friction surface and blocker teeth axially between the teeth of said rst and second structures, the ends of said blocker teeth engaging the ends of the teeth of said sleeve and preventing shift of said sleeve into said clutching engagement prior to approximate synchronization of said structures, said second 4structure having a slot therein and said blocker having a portion extending into said slot and engageable with a wall thereof for driving said blocker from said second mentioned structure while accommodating limited relative` rotation therebetween, said wall having a tapered portion operable upon engagement with said blocker poridon to urge said blocker friction surface into engagement with the friction surface of said first structure.

2. In a power `transmitting mechanism, a first rotatable structure having external clutching teeth and a friction surface, a second rotatable structure having external teeth, a sleeve having internal teeth engaging the. external -teeth of said second structure and shiftable to clutchingly engage thel teeth of said .first structure, a blocker member having a friction surface engageable with the aforesaid friction surface and blocker teeth axially between the teeth of said rst and second structures, the ends of said blocker teeth engaging the ends of the teeth of said sleeve and preventing shift of said sleeve into said clutching engagement prior -to approximate synchronization of said structures, and a connection between said second structure and said-blocker for rotatably drivlng the latter, said connection being operable Ato urge said blocker friction surface into engagement'with the friction surface of said first structure.

3, In a synchronizing clutch mechanism for an automotive change speed transmission, driving l means comprising ltwo rotating structures each jecting with rotative clearance into an adjacent y opening in said rim .to rotatably connect said hub and rings while accommodating limited rotation of said rings relative to each other and Irelative to said hub, each of said rings having a friction clutch\par-t engageable with one of said friction clutch members, and a shift sleeve having clutch teeth engaging the splines -of said rim and adapted for shifting movement selectively in opposite directions for clutching engagement with said sets of clutch teeth,said sleeve being operable to selectively force said friction clutch parts against said frictionclutch members under rela'- tively heavy` pressure to. synchronize .the clutch teeth of said shift sleeve with said sets of clutch teeth, opposite wall portions of each of the openings being tapered and engageable with a respective tapered edge portion of the tongue disposed ing a friction clutch member and a set of clutch`- teeth,\a driven shaft adapted to be clutched with" said structure, a hub carried by said shaft and` having ,an annular body portion and a peripherai splined rim overhanging, said body portion in a direction axially of said shaft and having an opening therein, a synchronizing control ring disvposed 'between said hub andl said structure and having an axially extending tongue projecting .into said opening to rotatably connect said hub" and ring while accommodating limited rotation ofsaid ring relative to said hub, said ring having a .friction clutch part engageable with said fricvtion clutch" member, and a' shift sleeve having clutch teeth engaging the splines of said rim and adapted for shifting movement for forcing fric-` said tongue to cause said friction clutch part to engage said friction clutch member under relatively light pressure priorgto said synchronizing operation.

5. In a synchronizing clutcnmechanism, relatively rotatable parts to be clutched, clutch elements respectively driven with said parts and relatively shiftable to effect clutching engagement therebetween, friction clutching, members retion operable in response to rotation of the last mentioned part to cause said friction clutching members to engage under relatively light pressure prior to said operation of said synchronizing means.

7. In a synchronizing clutch mechanism, relatively rotatable parts tobe clutched, clutch elements respectively driven with said parts and relatively movable to eect clutching engagement spectively driven with said parts, one of said y members including] radially extending blocker means disposed between said clutch elements and preventing said clutching engagement prior to synchronization thereof, means operable for forc- .ing one of said friction clutching members under relatively heavy pressure against the other to synchronizesaid and for. subsequently shifting one of-said clutch elements into `engage- Y ment with thel other, and means responsive to rotation of one of said parts for causing said friction clutching members to engage under relatively light pressurepriorto said operation of said synchronizing means.

` 8, In a synchronizing clutch mechanism, relatively rotatable parts to be clutched, clutch elem'ents respectively driven with saidparts, one

Y shiftable to clutchingly engage the other, vfriction clutching members respectively drivenwith said parts, one of saidmembers having radially extending teeth disposed between said clutch to shift 0f said second set 0f clutch teeth elements and engageable with said movable ele .ment to prevent said clutching engagement prior to synchronization thereof, and means operable for forcing one of said friction clutching members therebetween, friction clutching members respectively rotatably driven with said parts, one of said members having radially extending blocker means disposed between said clutch elements and blocking said clutching engagement prior to synchronization thereof, and means operable for forcing one of said friction clutching members under relatively heavy pressure against the other tosynchronize said parts and for subsequently moving one of saidclutch elements into engagement with the other, one of said friction clutching members being operable in response to rotation thereof to engage the other of said members under'relatively light pressure prior to said operation of said synchronizing means.

8.A In a power transmitting mechanism, relatively rotatable parts to be clutched, one of said parts comprising a set of clutch teeth and a. friction surface rotatable therewith, a hub structure rotating with the other of said parts, a second set of clutch teeth driven with said hub structure and adapted to be shifted toward the first said set of clutch teeth for clutching therewith, a. blocker structure rotatable with said'hub structure and having blocker teethf disposed between said sets of clutch teeth and engageable with said second set of clutch teeth to prevent said clutching prior to approximate synchronization of said parts, said blocker structure including a frictionv surface engageable with the first men tioned friction surface, and means responsive to rotation of said blocker structure for establishing frictional engagement between said friction surfaces prior to shift of said second set of clutch teeth toward the first said set of clutch teeth.

9.In a power transmitting mechanism, relatively rotatable parts to be clutched,vone of said parts comprising a set of vclutch teeth and a fric tion surface rotatable therewith, a hub structure rotating with `the otherrof said parts, a second set of clutch teeth driven with said hub structure and adapted to be shifted toward the first said setl i of clutch teeth for clutching therewith, and a f blocker structure including blocker teeth operable to'V prevent said clutching prior to approximate synchronization of said parts, said structure including a. friction surface engageable with the first mentioned friction surface, said blocker structurehaving an operating connection with said hub operable to cause said last mentioned frictionsurface to establish frictional engagement with the other of said friction surfaces prio toward the first said set of clutch teeth. y

10. Inra power transmitting mechanism, rela tively rotatable parts to be clutched, one of said parts comprisinga set of clutch teeth and a fric `tion member rotatable therewith, a. hub structure rotating with` the 'other of said parts, a second set of clutch teeth driven. with said hub structure and adapted to be shifted toward the mst said set of clutch teeth for clutching there-v with, a secondfriction member, and means for f rotatably connecting said secondfriction clutch member and said hub, said connecting means hey ing loperable to establish frictional engagement between said friction'members prior to shift of said second set of clutch teeth toward the iirst said set of clutch teeth.

11. In a synchronizing clutch mechanism, relatively rotatable parts adapted to be clutched, positively engageable clutch elements respectively driven with said parts, and friction clutching v members respectively driven with said parts. the

driving connection between one of said parts and Y one oi said members being operable to urge said last mentioned member into limited frictional engagement with the other of said members when said one of said parts is operable to drivesaid one of said members; said driving connection accommodating relative rotation between said one of said parts and said one of said members. 12. In a power transmitting mechanism including driving and driven structures, a clutching receiving the same and maintain the blockbetween said structures, a blocker adapted to engage one of said structures under blocker-energizing pressure and having blocker means, said blocker having an operating connection with the other of said structures accommodating limited said positioning of said blocker means in saidA blocking position prior to clutching movement of said device, said blocker means being 'so disp'osed prior to said clutching movement'of said device as to rotate free from engagement with the latter, and means drivingly` connectingsaid device Ato one of said structures.

13. In a'power transmitting mechanism including driving and driven structures, a clutching device having clutch teeth and movable to eiect positive clutching between said structures, a blocker adapted to engage one oi' said structures under blocker-energizing pressure and hav. ing blocker means, said blocker having an operating connection with the other of said structures accommodating limi-ted rotation of said blocker relative to said other structure for accommodating positioning of said blocker means to block said clutching movement of said device when said structures are rotating at relatively diiIerent speeds and for disposing said blocker means out of said blocking positionthereby to accommodate said clutching movement of said device when said structures are rotating at approximately the .same speed-said connection being operable to urge said blocker into said blocker-energizing engagement with said one of said structures whereby to induce said positioning of said blocker means in said blocking position prior to clutching movement of said device, said blocker means .being so disposed prior to said clutching movementof said device as to rotate free from engagement with said clutch teeth,

and means drivingly connecting said device toV one of said structures.

14. In a power transmitting mechanism including driving and driven structures each having a set of clutch teeth, a clutching device drivingly connected with one of said sets of clutch teeth and movable to clutch with the other of said sets of clutch teeth to eect a driving connection between said structures, a blocker adapted to engage one of said structures under blocker-energizing pressure and having blocker teeth disposed between said sets of clutch teeth, said blocker having an operating connection withthe otherv of said structures accommodating limited rotationof said blocker relative to said other structure for accommodating positioning oi' said blocker teeth to block said clutching movement of said device when said structures are rotating' at relatively different speeds vand for disposing said blocker teeth out of said blocking position thereby to accommodate said clutching movement of said device when .said structures are rotating at approximately the same speed, said operating connection being operable to urge said blocker into said blocker-energizing engagement with said one of said structures whereby to induce said positioning ol' said blocker teeth in said blocking position prior to clutching movement oi vsaid device.

15. In a power transmitting mechanism including driving and driven structures each having a set oi' clutch teeth, a clutching device drivingly Aconnected with one of said sets of clutch teeth and movable to clutch with the other oi' said sets oi.' clutch teeth to eifect a driving con- -nection between said structures, a blocker adapted to engage oneof said structures under blocker-energizing pressure and having blocker teeth disposed between said sets of clutch teeth, said blocker being rotatable with4 the rother of said structuresior positioning said blocker teeth to block said clutching movement of said device and being rotatable relative to said other structure for disposing said blocker teeth out of said blocking vposition to' accommodate said clutching movement, and means responsive to rotationof said other structure for urging said blocker into said blocker-energizing engagement with said one ofV said structures prior to clutching movement of said device.

O'I'IO E. FISHBURN. 

